Switch



May 23, 1933. H. .1. L. FRANK 1,910,205

SWITCH 7 Original Filed Sept. 15, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet l 1 N VEN TOR.

i m Qjamz BY A TTORNEY.

May 23, 1933. H J. L, FRANK 1,910,205

SWITCH Original Filed Sept. 15. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MZ W y W W May 23, 1933. H, J, L, FRANK 1,910,205

SWITCH Original Fileld Sept. 15. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

- BYJW ATTORNEY y' 1 H. J. L. FRANK ,205

SWITCH Original Filed Sept. 15, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

1mg f M BY 7.5 NM

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATE PATENT 30FF1E HARRISON 3'. I1. FRANK, F DETRGTT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOIR '10 BULLDOG ELECTRIC PRODUCTS COMPANY, 013' DETROIT, MIGHIGAN, A CQRPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA STIVITCH firiginal application filed fieptember 15, 1922, Serial No. 588,308, now Patent No. 1,731,489, dated October 15, 1929. Divided and this application filed September 16, 1929.

This invention relates to electric switches of the so-called iron clad type, that is, switches enclosed in metal boxes and having operating handles on the outside of the boxes so that the switches therein can be opened and closed while the cover is closed, mechanism being provided to normally prevent the closing of the switch while the cover is open and to prevent the switch being opened While the switch is closed.

This invention consists in a bar extending through a plurality of knife blades of switches, the bar being encased in a tube of insulating material and short bushings within the knife blades and surrounding the bar and upset on each side of the knife blades to prevent lateral movement between them.

It also consists in a switch mounted within a switchbox, a shaft, a cover for the box, a lock plate attached to the shaft and adapted to secure the cover in closed position, and opcrating member adapted to be engaged by the lock plate and a novel stop plate to prevent the lock plate from closing the switch while the cover is open, the stop plate being movable by the cover to inoperative position. I I

It also consists in a locking hook mounted on the operating shaft of the switch and adapted to hold the cover in closed position, and means to prevent the hook from moving.

It also consists in an actuating plate attached to the shaft, an operating handle nose on the shaft andadapted to engage the actuating plate to turn the shaft, said on gagement embodying an amount of slack motion, and a spring operatively connected to the actuating plate to accelerate the final movements of the shaft.

It further consists of the details of con struction illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a front view of this switch and the box therefor with the cover removed.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig.

. Fig. 3 is a side elevation from the right in Serial No. 392,776.

Fig. 1, of the operating handle for the swltch.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 1-4: of

Fig. 7 is a view of a connecting bar and a section of the insulationthereon.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a switch blade.

Fig. 9 "is a side elevation of one form of lock for the operating handle.

Fig. 10 is a detail of a lock plate.

Fig. 11 is a slightly modified form of insulatlon for a connector bar.

Figs. 12 and 13 are side elevations of a modified form of locking device for the operating handle showing the mechanism in two positions.

Figs. 14 and 15 are sections on the lines 1414 and 1515 of Fig. 12 respectively.

Fig. 16 is a perspective of another form of knife blade.

b Fig. 17 is a section thereof on a connector Figs. 18 and 19 are elevations of another form of locking device for the operating handle showing the parts in two positions.

Fig. 20 is a section on the line 2020 of Fig. 18.

Fig. 21 is an elevation of a door lock held inoperative.

Fig. 22 is a section on the line 2222 of Fig. 21. i

Fig. 23 is a perspective of a device to holdv the door lock inoperative.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The switch shown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the.

the clips 10 which connect to the small bearing plates 17 between which the knife blade contacts 18 are mounted on the bolts 19. The feed wires 20 extend in through openings in the end 4 and connect to the con tacts 21 which also have side plates 22 between which the knife blades 18 extend when the switch is closed.

The knife blade contacts may be of many different constructions and are connected and insulated as may be desired. I prefer to use one of the several novel constructions detailed in Figs. 7, 8, lland 16. The construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8 consists of a blade 18, preferably of copper, in which a hole is formed-by first slitting the blade by means of awedge which separates its sides and then placing it between dies which force the ends of the blade toward each other while limiting the outward expansion to the form shown. The hole is then properly finished to receive the connector bar 24. The loss of material is very small. The edges of the blade are the same as in the original ribbon thus saving the usual refinishing. The original cross section remains substantially the same at the point of expansion so that the conducting capacity is not affected. This bar is surrounded by a tube 25 of insulating material and a short sleeve 26 of vulcanized fibre fitting around this tube extends through the blade 18. The ends of the sleeve 26 are inserted in substantially cylindrical and counterbored jaws which move toward each other while a mandrel on the inside prevents collapsing. This produces the circumferential ribs 27 on the sleeve at either side of the blade 18 and at the same time retains the proper internal diameter of the sleeve so that it fits the tube 25 to hold the blade in V sition and at the same time permits the lade to adjust itself on this tube.

In Fig. 11 I have shown the bar 24, tube 25 and knife blade 18, and in addition a short sleeve 28 placed. on this tube within the blade, and this sleeve has its ends expanded and rolled back to-engage the blade, this ex ansion reducing the internal diameter su ciently to grip the tube 25;

In Figs. 16 and 17, a knife blade 30 is shown formed with a hub 31 which'is' produced by forcing out the metal of the blade without widening it. A small guide hole is first punched in the blade and a, drawing punch is then forced down to'extrude the hub. Normally this would crack the hub along its outer edge but by using a resisting die of cup shape which is held against the hub as it is formed by considerable pressure, the crackin of the hub is prevented. A pressure pad should bear against the upper face of the blade to prevent distortion while the hub is extruded downward. A

tube 25 on the connector rod again extends through the opening in this hub and a short sleeve 32 with circumferential ribs 33 again fills the space within the hub and around the tube. The blades thus constructed cannot become disconnected from the bar on which they are mounted.

The knife blades 18 are connected to an operating bail consisting of a central bar 34, arms 36 and 37 having outwardly turned aligned ends, the bail connecting to the knife blades by means of links 38, each having one end pivoted on the central bar 34 and the other end pierced, then split to pass over the end 40 of the connector bar 24, and then squeezed down to fit into the groove 41, as shown in Fig. 7. If desired, a washer 42 of insulating material may be placed between the ends of the insulating tube 25 and the links 38, as shown'in Fig. 11.

A plate 43 (Figs. 1 and 5), is attached to the side 2 by means of bolts 44 having nuts 45 on their inner sides and by means of tongues 46 struck up from the plate and extending through holes in the side 2. A raised portion 47 of this plate is formedwith a cylindrical flange 48 which constitutes a bearing for the end 36 of the bail, this end being upset at 49 to prevent withdrawal of the bail from its bearing. An extension 50 on this plate serves as a stop for the bail.

A plate 53 is attached to the inner side of the side 3 and the middle portion 52 is bent away from the side 3 to serve as a guide for the stop plate 54 shown in Fig. 10. The stop'plate is formed with a notch 55 at its upper end, with a central hole 56 to receive the shaft 66 and with a tongue 57 at its lower end. A spring 58 is mounted on pins 59 struck up from the plate 52 and has a portion 60 extending under the tongue 57 to normally hold up the plate 54.

The box has a covert provided with side flanges 62 and 63, the former formed with slotsto receive thecurved tongues 64 at tached to the side 2 of the box which con .stitute hinges for the cover (see 4).

tempos ing a pin 69 to which the bar 70 connects. This bar is slidable in a slot in the lug 72 on a plate 73 pivoted at 74 to the side 3, and this lug serves as an abutment for the spring 75 which also engages a plate 76 on the bar 70. This spring is compressed While the plate 67 is turned clockwise (in Fig. 2) until about the time the tongue 77 on this plate reaches the arm 37 of the operating bail, after which this spring causes the plate 67 to continue its movement to swiftly swing the bail to a position approximately at right angles to the bottom of the box and in doing so, opens the switch at such speed that very little arcing occurs at the contacts 22. This spring also assists in the swift and complete closure of the switch through the engagement of the flange 7 8 on the plate 67 with the opposite side of the arm '37.

This arrangement ofthe switch blade actuating parts permits the operation of the switch by means of the operating handle 98 even thou h the spring 75 should become broken and t erefore inoperative to produce the quick make or break.

Further, mounting the spring 75 on the bar or'link 70 provides not only a guide for the spring but, in case of spring, breakage, prevents the parts from becoming displaced and possibly getting into the live portions of the switch and causing short circuiting.

The plate 67 is undercut at the flange 78 to form a circular slot 79 in, which the screw 65 extends. So long as the plate 67 is in the'position shown in- Fig. 2, at which position the switch is closed, the flange 78 extends over the screw 65 and prevents the door being opened. When the plate 67 has been swung to release the screw 65 and the door has been opened; the arm 60 of the spring 58 presses up the plate 54 and brings the tongue 57 thereon against the edge of the plate at about the point 80 where this tongue is in the path of the shoulder 81 on the locking plate 67 and prevents this plate of the bail 34 from turning. The switch is thus locked in open position while the door 6 is open. The screw 65 enters the notch 55 in the plate 54 when the cover is closed and depresses the plate sufiiciently to carry the tongue 57 out of the path of the shoulder 81 so long as the cover 6 is in closed position.

The side 3 of the body is formed with a notch 102 to permit this entrance of the pin 65. Attached to the outer side of the wall 3 of the box is a plate 83 having a central portion made up of two sides 84 and a top '85 which is apertured and formed with a flange 82 to. serve as a bearing for the short shaft 66. This plate has a portion 86 bent up at right angles to constitute a lock plate shown in Figs. 4: and 6. On theshaftis retatably mounted a book 88 adapted to engage the screw 65 carried by the cover 6, and a spring 89 normally holds this hook in the position shown in Fig. 6. A foot 90 on erably secured to the side 3 of the box by.

means of the same screws so that the entire operating and interlocking mechanism may be taken out as a unit when these screws are removed.

The actuating plate 94 shown in Fig. 3 is attached to the shaft 66 and has a long slot 95 through which the operating handle 98 extends. This slot is of such length that the spring 75 can accelerate the movements of the switch in either direction. The handle is loose on the shaft and its inner end may be flanged, as'shown in Fig. 1, to engage the middle portion 85 of the supporting plate 83. The plate 94. has a slot 96 through which and through the holes 92, a padlock 97 can be passed to lock the switch in open a line man to lock the switch in open position while he is at work on the circuits connecting into the box.

If it is desired to inspect the switch when the switch is in the closed position, then the socket end 124 of the key or tool 100 shown in Fig. 23, having a head 101, is fitted over the head of the screw 65 and the screw jecting part 78 of the lock plate 67 when the hook 88 may be pulled back and the cover opened.

The cover may then be closed by reversing the process,-and the screw 65 is then screwed into the cover again.

It may also be desirable to inspect and operate the switch when the cover is open. Tn'this case the head 101 of the key or tool 100 is used to depress the plate 54 which permits the switch to be closed. The key or tool 100 is then removed. (See Figs. 21 and 22.)

If it is desired to close the cover, the screw 65 is backed out sufiiciently to clear the hook 7 8 and the cover is then closed and the screw run back in until it rests in a position underneath the hook 78.

In Figs. 18, 19 and 20 T have shown an actuating plate 106, somewhat similar to the plate 94 shown in Fig. 3. The hook plate 107 has a button or knob 108 adapted to be engaged by the ear 109 on this actuating plate 106 so that the hook plate cannot be swung back to release the screwllO carried by the cover 6 of the box so long as the switch osit-ion as shown in Fi 9. This ermits 95 plate through which the handle 98 extends.

The supporting plate 83 is again provided with an outward extension 86 which has holes 92 to receive a padlock. Mounted on the shaft 66 is a switch actuating plate 114, provided with a long slot 115, to permit the passage of the handle 98 as before described and this plate also has an eye 116 to receive a padlock which may also extend through a hole 92 again provided with holes to register with the holes 92 in the extension 86.

This lock plate 90 on the hook 88 is formed with a. notch 118 and the rigid extension 86 on the supporting plate 83 is provided with a slot 119. The switch-actuating plate 114 has pivoted to it a tongue 120 adapted to extend through the slot 119, and has an arm 121 adapted to extend into the notch 118. When the switch is open, as shown in Fig. 13, the tongue 120 is up out of the path of the shoulder 122 on the plate 90 and the arm 121 is also swung out of this path. The switch-actuating plate must be swung to normal position before the switch is closed for otherwise the tongue 120 cannot be forced down but as the book 88 and the arm 121 are mounted on the same shaft, the closing of the switch will swing the hook to operative position. Unless the cover 6 is already closed when this occurs,

it cannot be swung to closing position as the screw 65 will engage thetop or outer edge of the hook 88. The interlock composed of-the sliding plate 54 and the lock plate 67 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 prevent the switch being closed until this plate 54 is pushed in, either by the screw 65 or by a device such as shown in Fig. 23.

The tongue 120 and the flange 78 on the plate 67 perform the same duties and either may be omitted when the other is employed butboth may be used for the sake of greater safety.

It will be observed that the operating mechanism and the switch may all be removed without disturbing the conductors 12 and 20, so that any part may be replaced without the necessity of removing the wiring or conduits of the installation where this switch is employed.

Many other changes in the details of switches and their boxes embodyin this invention may be made by those skil ed in the art without departing from "the s irit of my invention as set forth in the fol owing claims.

This application is a division of prior application Serial No. 588,306, filed September 15, 1922, now Patent No. 1,731,489 granted Oct. 15, 1929, on a switch.

I claim:

1. In a switch, the combination of an operating bar, a sleeve of insulating material thereon, a short sleeve of insulating material on the long sleeve, a switch bar having an opening through which the sleeves and operating bar extend, the short sleeve being formed with circumferential ribs at each side of the switch bar to prevent movement HARRISON J. L. FRANK. 

